How to Choose the Right Merchant Navy Epaulettes in India — Complete Guide

How to Choose the Right Merchant Navy Epaulettes in India — Complete Guide
Captain Master merchant navy epaulettes 4 gold stripes Jahaazi

Merchant Navy Epaulettes · Complete Guide · All Ranks · India

Merchant Navy Epaulettes India
The Complete Rank Guide

Every rank, every department — deck, engine and ETO — with real photos of Jahaazi epaulettes. Written by the officer who makes them.

⚓ Aatish Saini, Master Mariner 📖 8 min read 🎖️ All Ranks Covered

I was home in Dehradun on leave. My epaulettes were due for replacement. Simple enough problem. I went to every shop in the city. Nothing. Searched online. Either the wrong rank, wrong department, or quality that would embarrass you on the bridge.

That frustration was the start of Jahaazi.

If I — a serving merchant navy officer — couldn't find decent epaulettes in my own city, how many other officers across India were facing the same problem? Port cities have chandlers. But what about officers who live inland — in cities like Dehradun, Lucknow, Bhopal, Patna?

So I learned to make them myself. The first pair took hours. By the third, I had the process right. By the twentieth, fellow officers were asking where I had bought them.

Today Jahaazi ships epaulettes across India — made by a Master Mariner who has worn every rank from cadet to Chief Officer.

When you put on your epaulettes, they should not just sit on your shoulder. They should stand there — the way the rank behind them does.

— Aatish Saini, Founder, Jahaazi

What Makes Quality Epaulettes — From the Maker

01
Gold Thread Density
Quality epaulettes use tightly packed, multi-strand gold thread that catches light sharply. Cheap versions use thin single-strand thread that looks flat and fades quickly with use.
02
Backing Fabric
The black base must be firm and dense. Thin backing creases after one voyage and the epaulette loses shape permanently. Good backing holds flat whether you are in uniform for 20 minutes or 20 hours.
03
Shoulder Strap Fit
The loop at the back must slide onto your shirt's shoulder strap correctly. Too loose and the epaulette rotates. Jahaazi epaulettes are sized for standard uniform shirt straps used by Indian officers.
04
Correct Department Pattern
Deck, Engine and ETO epaulettes each have a distinct pattern. Getting the wrong one means wearing incorrect insignia. This guide shows every pattern clearly so you order the right one.
Chief Officer merchant navy epaulettes close up Jahaazi quality
Chief Officer epaulettes — close-up showing the gold thread quality and stitching detail. This is what good epaulettes look like.

The Key Thing to Understand Before Ordering

Deck, Engine and ETO department epaulettes are different from each other. They may look similar at a glance — both have gold stripes — but the patterns are distinct to each department. Ordering the wrong department is the most common mistake buyers make.

⚠️ Before You Order
Always confirm your department and rank before ordering. Deck officer epaulettes and engine officer epaulettes have different patterns. The photos in this guide show each clearly — compare with your current epaulettes if unsure.

Complete Rank Guide — All Departments

⚓ Deck Department
Deck officers · Captain to Cadet
Deck
Deck department merchant navy epaulettes all ranks Captain Chief Officer Second Third Deck Cadet Jahaazi
Rank Stripe Pattern Badge
Captain / Master
4 Gold Stripes
Gold diamond ◇
Chief Officer
C/O · 3 Gold Stripes
Gold diamond ◇
Second Officer
2/O · 2 Gold Stripes
Gold diamond ◇
Third Officer
3/O · 1 Gold Stripe
Gold diamond ◇
Deck Cadet
1 Thin Gold Stripe
No badge
⚙️ Engine Department
Engine officers · Chief Engineer to Cadet
Engine
Engine department merchant navy epaulettes all ranks Chief Engineer Second Third Fourth Engine Cadet Jahaazi
Rank Stripe Pattern Badge
Chief Engineer
C/E · 4 Stripes
Gold diamond ◇
Second Engineer
2/E · 3 Stripes
Gold diamond ◇
Third Engineer
3/E · 2 Stripes
Gold diamond ◇
Fourth Engineer
4/E · 1 Stripe
Gold diamond ◇
Engine Cadet
1 Thin Stripe
No badge
⚡ ETO / Electrical Department
Electro Technical Officers
ETO
ETO Electro Technical Officer merchant navy epaulettes Jahaazi
Rank Stripe Pattern Badge
ETO
Electro Technical Officer
Gold diamond ◇
Electrical Cadet
1 Thin Stripe
No badge

How to Care for Your Epaulettes

👕
Remove before washingAlways remove epaulettes before washing your uniform shirt. Machine washing with epaulettes on damages the backing and loosens the gold thread permanently.
💧
Wipe, do not washIf soiled, wipe gently with a barely damp cloth and air dry completely. Never soak, never scrub, never submerge in water.
📦
Store flat or hangingStore flat in a drawer or hanging in your cupboard. Folding creases the backing permanently — the epaulette will not sit flat on the shoulder again.
☀️
Avoid prolonged sunlightExtended direct sunlight bleaches gold thread over time. When airing your uniform after a watch, remove epaulettes or hang in shade.
AS
Aatish Saini
Master Mariner · Chief Officer · Founder, Jahaazi
Started Jahaazi from Dehradun after failing to find quality epaulettes anywhere in the city. Made the first pair by hand. Now ships across India — to officers who face the same problem I once did. Every epaulette is quality checked before dispatch.
Made by a Seafarer, For Seafarers
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